Mona’s welcome party ultimately concluded amid a boisterous, chaotic atmosphere.
Though Mona initially insisted on maintaining the composure of an astrologist and avoiding indulgence in material desires, Lumine and Jia Changjiang’s determination ensured she met many new faces in Mondstadt.
These included Venti, the bard often seen performing at the tavern; Kaeya, who was dragged in during the latter half of the evening and force-fed drinks by Jia Changjiang and Lumine; and even Diluc, who happened to stop by the tavern while giving his staff the evening off, despite his aversion to drinking.
The party wasn’t what Mona might have envisioned, but it reflected the shared experiences and intertwined fates that had brought everyone together in this moment—a messy yet jubilant celebration.
Kaeya’s unexpected arrival even helped resolve a practical issue.
With Jia Changjiang pinning him in place and Lumine pouring drinks down his throat, Kaeya eventually relented and agreed to handle Mona’s registration with the Knights of Favonius.
The raucous welcome party lasted until nightfall.
By the end of it, Jia Changjiang, thoroughly drunk, passed out beneath one of Angel’s Share’s tables. When Diluc came to close the tavern, he debated throwing him out but ultimately tossed a blanket over him instead.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon took the opportunity to retreat to Mona’s newly rented home to sleep.
—
At sunrise, Jia Changjiang groggily woke from his impromptu slumber under the tavern table. As he sat up, his head bumped against the underside of the wooden table.
“Ugh… Ahh, what a night…”
Rubbing his forehead and stifling a yawn, he crawled out from under the table. Looking at his slightly disheveled state, he muttered to himself, “Guess I got a little too comfortable in Mondstadt. Can’t believe I drank so much I ended up sleeping under the table…”
He yawned again as his eyes fell on Charles, who was busy preparing the tavern for the day.
The morning shift wasn’t particularly busy, but opening preparations were still necessary.
“Hey, Charles. Where are Lumine and the others?” Jia Changjiang asked, settling into a seat and massaging his temples.
“Miss Lumine mentioned they were heading back to the house they rented,” Charles replied as he wiped down a table. “I must say, Mr. Jax, sleeping off your drinks in the tavern doesn’t quite match the image of the famed adventurer who saved Mondstadt. And now there are rumors spreading about the honorary knight saving Liyue as well… It won’t be long before the whole city is talking.”
“What’s the difference?” Jia Changjiang grumbled. “The one who dealt with Dvalin was me. The one who helped Liyue? Also me. What’s there to compare?”
Charles chuckled lightly as he set a glass of milk in front of Jia Changjiang before returning to his work. “Master Diluc isn’t particularly fond of letting drunkards stay overnight in his tavern, but he made an exception for you last night.”
“Yeah, yeah… I’ll be more careful next time,” Jia Changjiang replied dismissively, sipping the milk. “Still, you can’t blame me. The wine from Dawn Winery is just too good. Anyway, we’ll be sticking around Mondstadt and Liyue for a while. Thanks to the teleport waypoints, traveling back and forth is pretty convenient—though not something we can abuse…”
He trailed off, mumbling to himself, when the tavern door suddenly swung open.
“Jax! I knew you’d be up!”
A familiar green-clad figure bounded into the tavern, eyes alight with excitement. Venti strode over, grabbing Jia Changjiang by the hand.
“Come on! Let’s talk about Liyue!” the bard urged. “How’s the old man doing? I’ve heard so much about the incredible events there—I want to hear your version of it!”
Before Jia Changjiang could protest, Venti was already dragging him out of the tavern.
“Wait, hold on!” Jia Changjiang tossed a small pouch of Mora toward Charles as they passed. “That’s for the drinks…!”
His voice faded as he was whisked away, leaving only the clink of coins on the counter.
—
Venti dragged Jia Changjiang all the way to Mondstadt Cathedral’s plaza before finally stopping.
The early morning air was still quiet, with only a few scattered townsfolk out and about. Finding a secluded corner, the pair sat down to chat without fear of being overheard.
“So, what’s the deal with the old man? I nearly fell over when I heard the news of his ‘passing.’ For a moment, I thought I’d be the last of the original Seven left…” Venti’s voice dropped slightly, his tone unusually serious. “You know what really happened, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. Relax, Rex Lapis is fine,” Jia Changjiang assured him. “He faked his death, that’s all. He’s living as a mortal now, going by the name ‘Zhongli.’”
Jia smirked as he added, “Though, if you ask Lumine or Paimon, they’d describe him as a ‘freeloading societal deadbeat who somehow hasn’t starved without a wallet.’”
“Hah?!” Venti’s green eyes sparkled with amusement. “That stiff, stubborn old man? And he’s living as a regular mortal now? That’s a twist I didn’t see coming.”
“You’d better believe it,” Jia said, reclining against the stone wall. “We even helped Zhongli organize his own funeral. You wouldn’t believe half the things we went through in Liyue.”
And so, Jia Changjiang began recounting their adventures in Liyue, sharing every absurd and incredible detail with the bard.
By the time Jia finished, Venti was doubled over in laughter, tears streaming down his face.
“You—hah! You really held his funeral? And he didn’t bring a wallet?” Venti wiped his eyes, trying to catch his breath. “I can’t—hah! It sounds like you had quite the adventure in Liyue. Honestly, it rivals the story of your time in Mondstadt!”
“And to think you managed to rally all of Liyue against an ancient god… I doubt even the old man thought you could pull it off when he made his contract with you.”
Venti glanced at Jia Changjiang with a grin. “Just like in Mondstadt, you’re always doing things no one would believe possible.”
“Of course! Who do you think I am?” Jia Changjiang grinned back, folding his legs under him. “There’s no one greedier than me under the heavens! If I’m going to save someone, I’ll save them completely. Besides…”
His smile softened. “When it comes to helping friends, you give it your all. Right, Venti?”
The Anemo Archon smiled back, his emerald eyes shining. “Right.”
—
T/N: VENTI IS SO GAYYYY
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
Reader discussion
0 Comments
Be the first reader to share a thought about this chapter.